BHCC

Cestrum parqui Willow-scented jessamine

 

Cestrum nocturnum Night jessamine, queen of the night. Both are known as nichtolouloudo

 

Cestrum spp is one of the many night-scented blooms in Greece that go by the name of nichtoloulouda, or night flowers. However, these two particularly deserve the moniker. As you drive along with open windows, you can feel wafts of intense perfume filling the night air in the villages and towns of Greece during the summer months.

 

 

Leafcutter bee
THE CULPRIT in removing circular bits from your rose leaves is probably the otherwise harmless leafcutter bee. These rather charming, small, solitary insects cut chunks out of leaves in the process of diligently making nests in which to lay their dozen or so eggs that will hatch out and disperse next June. Although their handiwork looks a little unsightly, there is no cause for alarm.

 

EARLY September: the days are shortening visibly and the appearance of late summer bulbs tells us the season is beginning to turn. It was a long hot August, and this is the toughest time of the year for water-conscious gardeners: plants are flagging and really looking forward to a late summer thunderstorm.

 

BULBS are very often overlooked as a great source of joy for the balcony or courtyard garden. These gems of the plant kingdom are fleeting in nature, but that makes their magic even more special. They are a perfect way to enjoy the loveliness of the Greek seasons even in the middle of the city.